Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-03-05
LIVING 100 YEARS.
An Inquiry Into the Art of Lon
gevity.
Many Theories Among Physiologists-
Rules viii Not Always Protect. but
Excess of Mi.rule il Sure to
Shorten Life.

The late death of Mrs. Margaret De-
laney at nearly l0l years of age, in
Brooklyn, a few days ago, suggests the
often debated but always interesting
question of the normal duration of
human life. Button and some other
authorities on animal life have said
that the life of every animal should last
five or six times as long as the period
of its growth. The ratio generally
accepted is five. Thus, mar takes
twenty years to grow in and should
therefore live to 100. With proper
care. however, and regular habits as to
sleep and diet, many scientists see no
reason why at least half Il century more
might not be added to the healthy
liver's century. Heller placed the limit
at a little short of 200 years. Old Parr
is credited with having lived to the age
OF 1872. There is often great difficulty
in ascertaining the exact age. If the fire.
quent reports of the death ages of very
old colored persons who in early life
had been slaves be reliable it would
seem as if that race were longer lived
than our own. If history be exact in
ITS statements of longevity the duration
OF life varies according to the lapse of
agesa as well as civilization and climate.
An old Egyptian monument states that
llOwaS the limit in that country. Some
OF the Old Testament estimates are hard
TO credit. Methuselah, for instance.
must have had the toughest sort of a
constitution. Abraham was content
with l65 years. Joseph filled exactly
the Egyptian estimate. The Nine
tieth Psalm, which is attributed to
Moses, gives 20 as the limit of vital
energy,
The differences in the views even of
physicians as to the best means OF
keeping the clockwork Of life going are
almost as great as the original differ.
ence in the timepieces themselves.
Some people think it necessary to cal
three or four meals Il day in order tc
keep their lives agoing, while other.
declare that the chief destroyer of life
and health is food itself. When a sleek,
well fed man called on Abcrncthy and
complained ola general break upin hi.
health, the quaint old Esculapius said
"Give up your dinners; live on sixpenc,
a day and earn it, The ancient,
were generally content with two squar,
meals a day, thcpramdiam andIthe cgna
and many modern philosophers have
found that they feel much lighter
and more comfortable when they
cat only twice in the twenty.
ton! ss'H bbayyfea2fg ISSfHGdS laay az tar wSIRcneve,
they SEGA person in weak health recon-
mend more food, and when the dys
peptic answers that tough beef doe
not ''sit easy on his bosom's Lord
the stomach~-entreat him or her to tax,
more nourishment, such as jelly ever
five minutes, beef tea every half hour
oysters before going to bed and poi
wine whenever a faint feeling com
upon them. One man thinks boxin,
will keep him strong; another, rowing
third, walking so many miles ever
day without any object; a fourth, goin,
to bed at a particular hour every night
a fifth, oatmeal every morning; a sixth
bathing every day, and so fortl
Physical exercise is, no doubt, one q
the greatest personalities of life an
health, but when overdonc it has kille
thousands Of strong men by heal
disease, consumption, apoplcxy or pa
alysis. Mr.. Gladstone has recruited h
strength for many years by telling tree
and his diet is very simple, u little fish
some bread and cheese and half a pin
OF bitter ale often serving him for
dinner at his club after a hard day
work. Other brain workers, like Arch
bishop Whately, have had enormou
appctites and been equal to three ordi
nary men ut q dinner table. Pure al
and pure water have a great deal to 4,
with longevity, so much SO that in tn,
lake districts Of Westnoreland, Eng
land, the average age Of those witt